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mKc "^oice of ^i. 3oKn : 

OR THE STORY OF 



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The Voice of St. John; 



OR, THE STORY OF 



The First Easter Day. 



BY 



Wm. Wilberforce Newton. 



M.f>^n 



FEB 14 It.'Z^ 



^'r. 



•WASHlH'' 



NEW YORK: 

ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & COMPANY, 

900 Broadway, Cor. 20TH Street. 



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copyright, 1881, by 
Anson D. F. Randolph & Company. 



NEW YORK : 
EDWARD O. JENKINS, ROBERT RUTIER, 

Printer and Stereoiyper, Binder^ 

20 North William St. ii5 and 118 East 14th Street, 



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I 



Scene : — St. John at Ephesus, on the last Easter- 
day of his life, gathers the members of the church 
together, by the riverside, and tells his converts 
once more, the story of the first Easter-day. 

"Little children .... it is the last time." 

I John ii. i8 



L 



^'1 






THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 



I. 

/'^►'ATHER round me, little children, for my 
^n^ days are ebbing fast. 
And your aged friend and father goeth to his 
home at last. 

Soon the oldest of Apostles, Avhite-haired, worn, 

and craving rest, 
Called by God, must join his brethren, saints and 

martyrs, saved and blest. 

Here, beside the swift Meander, where our holy 

church has stood, 
Saints of Ephesus, I bid you hold the faith and 

seek the good. 

On this happy Easter morning, you have sung 
your hymns of praise, 

And my soul is filled with memories of those far- 
off, wondrous days, 
9 



^4— 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

When we hurried in the morning, hope befogged 

with clouds of gloom ; 
Hoping much, but fearing most — the silence of 

the sullen tomb. 

Little children ! sure, 1 feel it — 'tis the last time 

my poor breath 
Shall relate the Easter story — how our Lord has 

conquered death. 

Gather round me, then, and listen while I live the 

past once more, 
And recount the golden hours of that Easter-day 

of yore. 



II. 

Gray and cold was the dawn, and darkness hung 

long on the twilight, 
When Mary, the loved one forgiven, from whom 

had departed the devils, 
Limping and halt as she was, for the demons had 

troubled her sorely. 
Tapped at the lattice-door of the house of my 

mother, where Mary, 



^ \^l£ 

7i 
THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

The sister of Mary, the Virgin and wife of Clopaa 
were waiting. 

These were the three who had stood by the blood- 
dripping cross of the Saviour, 

Theirs were the hands that received the body of 
Jesus, when Joseph 

Ascending the terrible cross, with Nicodemus, the 
ruler, 

Gently lowered the sheet, and folded the arms of 
the victim. 

Bearing the agonized mother away from the sight 

of the crosses, 
Giving my arm to the sufferer, pierced with the 

sword of her sorrows. 
Surely fulfilling the word which Simeon spake in 

the temple, 
Back from this vision of death, away from the 

shouts of the soldiers, 
Wearied and stricken and worn, I was sleeping the 

sleep of the troubled, 
Guarding the home of our loved one, of Mary, the 

mother of Jesus, 
Hard by the narrow street, that led up to the for- 
tress of Herod. 



^4 

/|f--e<- 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

Little knew I of the plan of my mother, that earlj 
by daybreak 

The women should go to the tomb, to wait for the 
promised deliverance. 

'Twas Salome, my mother, you know, Zebedee's 
wife of Gennesaret, 

Who came to the master of old, and asked for a 
place in the kingdom. 

For those who stood nearest her heart, as she gave 
up her all to the Master, 

Leaving her home in the north, and her husband, 
the fisherman sailor; 

'Twas Salome, my mother, I say, who prepared for 
this early adventure. 

First at the tomb in the garden, last upon Calva- 
ry's hill-top. 

Busy were they in the work of preparing the spike- 
nard and ointment. 

Hoping and fearing by turns and ready for joy or 
for sorrow. 

Thus in the dark of the morning, before the first 
red of the sunrise. 

Wrapping their mantles about them, their hurrying 
feet sought the Garden. 

12 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 



III. 

But hark ! Was it thunder they heard 
Rumbling in darkness so still ? 
Stars in the sky seemed to fall, 
Soldiers affrighted, dismayed. 
Fled from the tomb, and like sheep 
Struck by the fiery bolts 
Of an eastern simoon in the sands 
Of the desert, were fleeing away, 
Trembling, the sisters advanced. 
Where a luminous cloud seemed to rest 
In the rocky recess of the tomb. 
Then came the vision of light ! 
Angels were guarding the place ! 
The stone on the pathway was rolled. 
The sepulchre empty and bright, 
Gave the first note of that joy 
Which to Easter must always belong, 
Telling them Christ was alive ! 
Then in the triumph of bliss. 
Quick in her womanly thought, 
Mary, the Magdalene, fled, 

Leaving her comrades behind, 
13 



^'1 






^A. 



Jt±±. 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

To feast on the fulness of faith 
Changed to the richness of sight, 
While the red sun in the heavens 
Poured forth the splendors of day ! 
Never had sunrise till then 
Meant such a flood of bright hopes ; 
Never had light till this morn 
Been such a message from God : 
Never had darkness and fear 
Lurking within the cold tomb 
Been driven away, until now. 

It was then I heard hurrying feet, 

And the latch of the door opened wide, 

At the home of the mother of Christ, 

Where Simon had come from his tears, 

Humbled and saddened and wan. 

'Twas the Magdalene. Ere she could speak, 

In her face that was lighted with joy, 

The message of triumpli T r-^ad, 

As she clasped her pale hands and exclaimed : 



14 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 



IV. 



The Master has surely arisen ! 

Come, visit the spot where He lay. 
The keepers have fled, and an angel has said, 

" Christ is risen, is risen to-day." 

We have been to the tomb very early, 
With ointment and spikenard, for fear 

Our hopes should deceive us, but, brothers, be- 
lieve us, 
The angels have dried every tear. 

It was dark when we came to the garden, 
And we felt for the latch, as the gray 

Seemed to lighten, our footsteps to brighten 
And herald this wonderful day. 

Yet, perchance it is only a vision, 

Perchance I am dreaming or mad, 
But they've taken away our dear Lord where He 
lay, 
Run quickly ! Behold, and be glad ! 
15 



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I 



^4 

Ltl± 



t 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 



V. 

Starting away like ships that feel the breeze on the 

canvas, 
Simon and I in the zeal which is born in the 

moment of triumph ; 
Ran through the city's street, till we came to the 

gate of the Garden : 
First at the tomb was I, while Peter came panting 

behind me, 
Weary and worn as he was, from the tears of his 

bitter sorrow. 
Alone we stood at the grave which was silent and 

robbed of its inmate ; 
No vision to us was vouchsafed, and the women 

had gone to the city. 
The guard from the fortress had fled, to carry the 

story to Pilate. 
"Where were the angels," we asked, " and how 

should we know what the truth was .' " 
For the sun was climbing the heavens and mystery 

still was our portion. 

'Twas then in our utter amaze, that the Magdalene 

following behind us, 
i6 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

Came to the open tomb, and taking her resolute 

station, 
Said she would watch o'er the grave till she saw a 

new vision of angels : 
Firm in her faith was she, that Jesus was surely 

arisen, 
And trusting her future to God, she uttered this 

song, in her rapture : 



VI. 

I shall behold His face 
And triumph in His love, 

I yet shall see His love for me, 
God's loving care above. 

I may not see His ways. 
Or know His secret plan, 

Yet I can wait His kingly state 
And feel His love for man. 

I can not scan God's will. 

1 linger here in faith. 
Yet I shall see His love to me. 

I'll trust Him unto death. 
17 



"^l 






^4 



I 



THE VOICE OF ST JOHN. 

I shall behold His face, 
His loving form shall see. 

It must be nigh ; I can but sigh, 
Bring me, my Lord, to Thee! 



VII. 

It was then when we had departed, and wended 
our way to the city, 

Seeking the other apostles, to tell them these won- 
derful rumors, 

That Mary, alone in the Garden, beholding a form 
drawing near her. 

Said to the vineyard's watch (supposing the gar- 
dener was coming), 

" If thou hast borne Him hence, oh, tell me where 
thou hast laid Him, 

And I will take Him away, if death is the end of 
my vision. 

But if He is risen indeed — " Then beholding the 
face of the stranger. 

To the earth, as one dead, she fell; while Jesus 

said to her — " Mary ! " 
i8 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 



VIII. 

"Rabboni, my Master," she cried, 
'' Thy feet, O my God, let me clasp ! 
Am I treading the pavement above 
Where freedom is given from doubt ? 
Am I lifted to light that is bliss ? 
Has heaven come down upon earth 
Since Christ over death has the power?' 
Then Jesus to Mary replied; 
Her face in her mantle shut in, 
As though she were blinded with light : 
" Touch me not yet, O my child, 
Not yet to my Father in heaven 
Bearing the sheaves from the field, 
Bringing the first-fruits of life, 
Have I in triumph gone up. 
But go to my brethren and say, 
Back to our Father and God 
Soon I ascend ; that in joy 
In the kingdom that lieth beyond, 
We for all ages may be 
Brethren, united in life. 
Neve*" by sorrow undone ! " 
19 



7\ 



^4— 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

IX. 

Gone in a moment was Christ, and the whispering 

breath of the west wind 
Fanned the penitent's face en the spot where her 

Lord had been standing : 
Leaving the Garden again, she encountered Salome 

and Mary- 
Just by the brook, in the way that leads up to the 

fish-pond of Herod : 
Warm was their loving embrace while the Magda- 
lene sang in her gladness : 



X. 

Hail to the brightness which heralds His glory ! 

Hail to the coming of Christ among men ! 
Back from the tomb He has come, and the story 

Is told us by angels again and again ! 

Death is uncrowned, since the Saviour of mortals 
The grave and destruction has robbed of their 
gloom : 

Victory shines out from heaven's opened portals, 
Jesus has conquered the power of the tomb. 






THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

Christ is arisen ! O sisters, with gladness, 

Bright shines this Easter morn, bringing Him 
near, 

Lovingly owning Him, banishing sadness, 
Hope springs eternal o'er darkness and fear. 

XL 

It was then in the court of the temple, the priests 

and the rulers were plotting, 
How they might silence the tale brought back by 

the terrified soldiers : 
" They have stolen His body away; say this to 

the wondering people." 
Such was the word of the rulers, such was their 

meaning of Easter. 

Easter noon was it now, when a party of loving 

disciples, 
Women, with spices prepared, to lay at the tomb 

of the prophet, 
From Galilee came, and inquired the way to the 

garden of Joseph. 
Thus they drew near to the cavern, so fern-crowned 

and buried in mosses. 



T//E VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

Peering within at tlie place where they thought 

they should see the Lord's body. 
While they were earnestly gazing, amazed to find 

nothing but grave-clothes, 
A luminous flame seemed to shine, and lo, the 

bright forms of two angels 
Told them that Christ was alive, as they chanted 

this song in sweet music : 

XII. 

Av.'ake ! Awake ! Glad voices make. 

Sing praise to Christ the Lord, 

The living Word, 

In earth and heaven 

Eternally adored ! 

For thankful songs 

From hearts and tongues 

To Christ our King is given 

From hearts of men 

Set free again 

And happy saints in heaven. 

'Tis Easter morn, new faith is born, 
The day of days the best. 



7i 






THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN: 

Sing praise to God ! 

Sing out abroad, 

With joy and hope possessed ! 

For now the Prince 

Of Peace hath fought. 

And triumphed o'er the grave, 

With holy arm, 

And strong right hand, 

Omnipotent to save. 

No shadows now, our spirits bow, 

Our souls are raised on high, 

The Son of man 

In God's own plan 

Has come to earth to die. 

No doubts or fear 

Could hold Him here 

Detained by mortal breath. 

For now He lives 

And freely gives 

Redemption over death ! 



23 



A 



1^ 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 



XIII. 

Frightened, and awe-struck, and still, the women 

from Galilee pondered 
What this strange vision should mean, ere it faded 

away into sunlight. 
Soon to their wondering souls there was joined the 

glad spirit of Mary, 
Who back from the vineyard returned when Jesus 

had vanished before her. 
'' Come, let us seek the disciples, come, let us tell 

the glad tidings." 
Cheerfully thus to the group the Magdalene spoke, 

and then added : 
" Out of a garden man wandered, sin entering in 

by a woman : 
Back to an Eden restored let woman recover the 

doubting." 
Leading the way to the city, the strangers from 

Galilee followed, 
Close on the steps of their guide, as she knocked 

at the door-post of Simon — 
Simon the zealot, I mean, where, sitting within in 

the darkness, 

24 






4 

TB£ VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

The scattered disciples were found engaged with 

these obstinate rumors. 
Gladly their story they told, but how could the 

brethren believe them ? 
How could it ever be true as Thomas exclaimed 

'mid these doubtings : 

XIV. 

Now is done our work of faith, 
Can it be that Christ o'er death 
Triumphs with His human breath ? 

Let them freely say 
What they hope or what they fear ! 
Binding law both far and near 
Rules supreme o'er grief and cheer, 

Night is never day ! 

When the human body dies, 

When the soul from matter flies, 

When the form beloved, lies 

In the silent tomb, 

Who can call us back once more. 

From the strange, mysterious shore, 

Where the gathered souls of yore 

Live beyond earth's gloom ? 
25 






TIfE VOICE OF ST. JO HIST. 

Nay, my brethren, do not grieve. 
I can ne'er this tale believe. 
Reason can not this receive, 

Can not understand ! 
In the Master's pierced side, 
Where the spear-thrust entered wide, 
In those palms once crucified, 

I must thrust my hand ! 



XV. 



Shades of the evening grew on, while forth to a 

neighboring village, 
Two of our company went, to seek for the absent 

Salome, 
And as in their talk by the way they communed 

with each other and wondered, 
A pilgrim they passed on the road, a wayfarer, 

mantled and hooded, 
Who, joining their steps toward the town, thus 

spoke with a tone of emotion : 

26 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 



7?" 



XVI . 

" Wherefore this saddened gaze, 
And why this gloom when all around is bright? 
Walks trouble a companion with you on life's ways, 

Silent and dark as night ? " 

Then Clopas quick replied, 
" Art thou a stranger in Jerusalem, 
And know'st thou not that Jesus Christ hath died ? 

Would'st thou our grief condemn 

" When we had trusted all 
Our hidden hopes to this, the Son of man, 
The last of all the prophets; and the pall 

Grows thick o'er every plan? 

" And certain women brave, 
Have thrilled our spirits by the news they bring 
From Joseph's garden, for they say the grave 

Contains not anything — 

"And angels guard the place. 

Moreover, 'tis the third day, and we know 
27 



^^1 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

He whom we trusted, told us face to face, 
Our faith to sight would grow. 

"And yet we see Him not, 
And fears come in and rob our rising breath. 
On earth there does not seem one favored spot 

Untenanted by death." 

Then the wayfarer said : 
" O fools and slow of heart to take in hand 
All that the prophets and the seers of old 

Have told you : understand 

The purpose of the Lord." 
And then, with earnest look and kindling eye. 
The stranger, from the visions of God's Word, 

Showed them why Christ must die ! 

Then on the shady road 
Which skirts the entrance tc* Emmaus' slope, 
Reaching, by sunset's hour, their plain abode. 

Aroused with kindling hope, 

They pressed their guest to stay. 

"Abide with us, for it is drawing late. 

And shadows fall," they said, " across the way : 

Pass not our humble gate." 
28 






THE VOICE OF ST JOHN: 

'Twas eve ; and yet 'twas dawn ! 
Quick as a flash while we were breaking bread 
We saw the living face we thought was dead, 

And Christ was gone ! 



XVII. 

'Twas night and the city was still. The paschal 

moon had arisen, 
Silvering the turrets and walls of the castles and 

fortresses grim, 
Light on the temple shone and the shadows were 

growing tall ; 
In the evening watch could be heard the clatter 

of horses' hoofs, 
As down the pavement of stones some lordly Sen- 
ator, late 
To the feast of his Roman friends, in his lumbering 

chariot was driven. 
The cry of the owl so shrill, as he perched in the 

cedars old, 

Or the call of some vender of wares, lost in the 

driver's noise, 

29 






THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

As he hurried liis mules along, broke in on the 

stillness of night. 
'Twas then in a secret room the eleven disciples 

were found, 
With others to whom the reports had been brought 

from the empty grave, 
While wonder and doubt like the tide ruled their 

spirits by turns. 
Into this upper room suddenly entered the brothers 
Who from Emmaus had come, crowning their 

hopes with the tidings : 
" Jesus is risen indeed ! Simon hath seen Him 

alive ! " 

'Twas then, while with rapture we stood, scanning 
the faces of friends. 

To find that assurance of hope, hidden away in 
our breasts, 

Right in the midst of the gfoup, ere we could know 
what it meant, 

Jesus with glory appeared : Jesus, the same and 
yet changed. 

Changed, yet our Jesus of old, breathing out bless- 
ings on each, 

30 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

"Peace to your spirits," He said Why need 

I tell you the rest ? 
'Tis the food and the drink of the soul ! Soon I 

shall see Him again ; 
Soon in His bosom recline, as once at thepassover 

feast 
To me it was given to feel the heart-beats of Him 

who has gone ! 



XVIII. 

Thus I've told again the story 
Of the Resurrection morn, 

How, from out the clouds of darkness, 
Hope for man from God was born. 

Hold this faith, then, do not falter, 
Bear the trials of your life, 

Peace comes after struggle ; after 
Death, there comes eternal life. 

Little children, keep from idols ; 
Heed my faltering words to-day. 
31 



^4 

y\f--<re 



THE VOICE OF ST. JOHN. 

This is God, the only true One. 
This is life, the only way. 

God is true, and all things show it. 

Let your lives your trueness prove 
Can you doubt on Easter morning, 

God is light and God is love? 



32 








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